2. digital
  3. 137347-3787

If you still spin CD's their is a reference level Transport for reasonable money

I just got in-house the Jay's Audio CDT-2 MK3 transport to review for hometheaterreview.com.  The build quality and physical appearance make it hard to believe that it retails for around $2,400.  Right out of the crate not even broken in yet, it's out performing my CEC double belt transport in the reference system.  It retains all the liquidity and analog smoothness of the belt driven transport but offers more details, tighter bass frequencies, and a larger layered soundstage with more air between the players.

Alvin, of Vinshine Audio set this review up with me, so if you go to his website you can get a lot more details/pictures on this transport.  The reason I was motivated to review a CD transport was I received scores of requests from my readers asking what is a great sounding transport, for a reasonable amount of money.  So far, in spades the Jay's Audio CDT-2 MK3 fits the bill easily.   
teajay
bigkidz
3,390 posts
 

@jriggy I heard the Jays transport with the terminator DAC over the weekend.  The person had the PS Audio transport and matching DAC.  He sold the PS audio to go with the Jays set-up.  I did not hear them so I do not have a personal opinion.  I did hear the PS Audio prior to the person getting the Jays set-up and I was not very impressed.  That being said, there are plenty of used at that was once high prices that you can buy cheap today that will compete with the Jays audio set-up.  For instance, I picked up a Metronome and a Audiomeca transports that IMO are better than the Jays transport.  More musical, deeper soundstage less digital sounding (maybe SS sounding) and more relaxed for digital reproduction.  $500 each.


Happy Listening.

garrard
73 posts
 
@bigkidz 
You lucky bastard, well done.
bigkidz
3,390 posts
 

@garrard

There is a Metronome on ebay selling CDP (not just a transport) and the DAC with can be used tube or SS.  He is asking over $2K but he is negotiable.  So you may try to make him a few offers.  He has been trying to sell for a while now.  I would have bought the entire set-up but the Transport fell into my lap so I stole it.

Peter



shkong78's avatar
shkong78
1,485 posts
 
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00R5CDG8O/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

If you use separate isolation transformer for Jay's CDT2, it sound more organic and natural.

Above inexpensive isolation transformer connected with  Spiritual Audio power conditioner works well in my system.

Thomas
snopro
392 posts
 
@garrard
I’m the guy who’s system bigkidz heard.
First off, we used two different inputs so we are comparing apples to oranges.
Between the Jays transport and the Terminator I use a HDMI Wireworld Platinum cable.
 With Metronome we used a Cerious Technologies digital coax.

I thought the hdmi sounded more open and livelier but, had a more upfront presentation.

When we used the digital coax with the Jay’s and Termi it also sounded pretty similar the the Metronome and Termi pairing. It became smoother, had a  deeper soundstage but the Jay’s was more dynamic and had more air.

Difference of opinion. I don’t think the Metronome was better just a little different presentation. 

Both were excellent. If you can get the Metronome used for a good price you’ll get a hell of a transport.

IMO,  the Jay’s is just as good, maybe even better and you can get it new plus it is built like a tank.

Joe


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